Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Launches Crop Residue Management Loan Scheme
On October 6, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a new initiative to tackle pollution caused by stubble burning. The ‘Crop Residue Management Loan Scheme’ aims to help farmers access machinery for disposing of crop residue without burning it.
Government’s Commitment
In a post on social media, CM Mann emphasized the government’s dedication to reducing pollution. The scheme, available through cooperative banks across Punjab, offers farmers a subsidy of 50 to 80 percent on Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines.
Encouraging Farmers
CM Mann urged farmers to take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to a cleaner environment. Stubble burning has been a significant issue, especially during winter, affecting air quality in Delhi and neighboring areas.
Monitoring Efforts
To address this, ‘flying squads’ have been deployed in Punjab and Haryana to monitor stubble burning incidents. These squads will report daily to the Commission and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the situation and preventive measures.
Ministry’s Role
The Ministry of Environment has stated that these squads will operate in hotspot districts from October 1 to November 20, 2024, where stubble burning is more prevalent.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab -: Punjab is a state in northern India, known for its agriculture and rich cultural heritage. It is one of the leading states in India for farming.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister, who is the head of the government in an Indian state. Bhagwant Mann is the current Chief Minister of Punjab.
Crop Residue -: Crop residue refers to the leftover parts of plants, like stalks and leaves, after the main crop has been harvested. Farmers often burn these residues, which causes pollution.
Stubble Burning -: Stubble burning is the practice of setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after grains like rice and wheat have been harvested. It is a major cause of air pollution in India.
Subsidy -: A subsidy is financial assistance provided by the government to help reduce the cost of a product or service. In this case, it helps farmers buy machinery for managing crop residue.
Flying Squads -: Flying squads are special teams that are quickly deployed to monitor and report specific activities, like stubble burning, to ensure rules are followed.
Ministry of Environment -: The Ministry of Environment is a part of the Indian government responsible for planning and implementing policies related to the environment and forests.
Hotspot Districts -: Hotspot districts are areas identified as having a high incidence of a particular problem, like stubble burning, and are given special attention to address the issue.